Ship-propelling apparatus.



Patented Ian. 8, |90I.

P. N. mcks. SHIP PBUPELLING APPARATUS.

(Application filed-Apr. 12, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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PRESLEY N. HICKS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SHIP-PROPELLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 665,785, dated January 8, 1901.

Application led April 12, 1900. Serial No. 12,574. \No model.)

Lio @LZ whom, it may concern:

leit known that LPRESLEY N. HICKS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ship-Propelling Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in ship-propelling apparatus; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ship with the nearer side partly broken away, showing my propelling apparatus in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan with the deck-floor and a portion of the keel-floor removed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged middle section of the driving plunger or piston, showing the valves carried thereby; and Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of one of the main gate-valves.

One object of my invention is to construct a ship-propelling apparatus which shall dispense with the screw and paddle wheel, the propelling and steering being accomplished by means of a plunger acting directly against a column of water conveyed to said plunger through a system of pipes disposed, preferably, parallel to the keel and below the keelfloor. A further object is to dispense with the rudder, if desirable, the steering of the ship being accomplished by means similar to those employed for driving the same.

In detail the invention may be described as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a ship of any type whatever. Located within the same is a system of boilers 2, operating an engine 3, preferably of the tappet form. The piston-rod of the engine is connected to a plunger or piston 4, operating in a water-cylinder 5, supplied with water througha system of feed or supply pipes 6, each provided with terminal sea-valves (gate-valves) '7 and checkvalves S, both well known in the art. Leading from the base ol the cylinder 5 are pipes 9 9, running lengthwise ofthe ship and below the keel-door, the outer ends of the pipes being provided with Y-shaped terminals, the legs of the Y being disposed on either side of the middle longitudinal line of the ship. The ends of the Ys are provided with sea-valves 10. Leading from the upper end of the cylinder 5 is an air-pipe 11, the top thereof being surmounted by a hood 12. Located in each pipe 9, adjacent to the cylinder 5, is a gate-valve 13 of ordinary construction, the same being operated by a steam-cylinder 14, to the piston-rod 15 of which the valve is connected, the cylinder 14 being supplied with steam from the boiler through pipe 15, the system of pipes being provided with the necessary valves, as is obvious.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a sectional detail of the plunger or piston 4, the same comprising an inner plate 4 and an outer open plate 4', the two plates being properly bolted together and separated by a suitable space. The plate 4 is provided with openings controlled by valves 16, the stems of which are guided in the outer plate 4'. As the plunger makes its upward stroke the air above the same passes by the valves 16, as seen by arrows in Fig. 3, forming an air-cushion above the column of water which is rising in the cylinder 5 to ll the vacuum formed by such upward stroke. As the plunger descends it forces the column ot' water out of the cylinder 5 and through either one or the other of the pipes 9, (according to which of the gate-valves 13 are open,) the ship being thereby propelled in the direction opposite to that in which the water is forced through the pipe 9. With the upward stroke of the plunger the air-cushion compressed between it and the Water column in the air-cylinder assists the plunger in such stroke, the elasticity of the air-cushion supplementing the action of the steam in the operation of the engine.

Located, preferably, above the pipes 9 at each end of the ship are similar combinations of smaller engines 3 and air-cylinders 5', supplied with steam through pipes 17, each cylinder 5 being connected with a short pipe 9', (provided with a sea-valve 13,) said supplemental engines and pipes constituting the steering mechanisrnfor the ship, for it is obvious that upon driving the water through IOO any one pipe 9 or combination of such pipes the streams of Water ejected through them will steer the ship in any direction desired.

While no specific devices are here shown for controlling the various valves, it is apparent that such devices may be supplied by the skilled mechanic and disposed according to the plans of the ship-builder.

From the foregoing it is obvious that my invention contemplates the propulsion and steering of vessels by driving a column of water through a system of pipes, the ship moving in a direction opposite to the ow of such column.

It is apparent that many changes can be made in my present construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Aship-propellingapparatus, comprising a suitable engine, a plunger operated thereby, valve-controlled ports carried by the plunger, a cylinder for said plunger, an air-induction pipe leading from the cylinder at a point above the plunger, pipes leading from said cylinder below the plunger and disposed beloW the keel-Hoor parallel to the medial longitudinal line of the ship, Y'shaped terminals for said pipes opening into the water, and suitable valves in said pipes, and Y-shaped terminals, substantially as set forth.

2. A ship-propelling apparatus, comprising a suitable engine, a plunger operated thereby, a cylinder for said plunger, the latter comprising two plates separated by a space, ports formed in the inner plate, valves controlling said ports and having guidestems passing through the outer plate, an air-induction pipe leading from the cylinder at a point above the plunger and extended upwardly above the floor of the ship, suitable Water inlet or supply pipes leading to the cylinder at a point below the plunger, pipes leading from the cylinder to each end of the ship, Y-shaped terminals for said pipes opening into the water in Which the ship is floated, suitable seavalves and check-valves properly disposed throughout the system of pipes, the parts operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PRESLEY N. HICKS. Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, G. L. BELFRY. 

